But if you get anything vaguely similar to accutane symptoms (look them up) in places you aren't applying it, then try dropping the topical for a while (just a week or two), and see if they go a way. Otherwise topicals are probably fairly safe. After all, you can get topical retinoic acid easily enough from the doctor (Retin-A).

 

 

 

 

 

I almost don't care if the Vitamin A is bad for me in some unseen way. I was at my wit's end anyway when I started and nearly to point of slitting my throat. Now that would have done much more serious damage to my body! In fact at this point I consider my life saved by this Vit A cure (As I thought Accutane would have done) because I have something to live for and yet with no bad symptoms so far. The oil is way less though not completely gone; I have only one zit on my face below my chin; the blackheads are gone; the discolorization is gone; the lumpy scars are almost gone; and I'm starting to get those encouraging looks for the opposite sex I haven't gotten since I was 14 when this mess started.

Wally so happy to hear everything is still going well for you I can completely relate to your post. My husband was upset when I went on Accutane, twice, because of the health risks, but he just didn't understand that at that time to me the risks didn't matter. ( I think he had 3 pimples in his whole life) Got to love him for loving me, pimples and all, but I do want to look my best for him and for me! It is very much a psychological as well as physiological problem.

I could not agree more! I've been struggling with acne for 14 years now (15-29). That's 14 years of my life literally revolving around my face, of the acne controlling much of my life. From trying just about every remedy/"cure" out there to hiding myself away from others. I've also gone through periods in my life when I've felt like killing myself, like that was the only answer. People who don't have ance or have only gotten mild breakouts cannot possibly understand that most of us would do just about anything (including risking harm to ourselves) to find a way to get rid of it.

Thank you Lola for the AHA reply.

I was re-reading thevitamincure site and noticed this on the Legalese tab:

The Vitamin A+ Skin Solution is meant only for external use to treat oily skin, acne scars and cystic acne.

Hey, Im in the UK, I really want to try this as I'm at my wits end and this whole oil thing gets me so depressed. Could anyone tell me a name of a good Vit A topical available in the UK please?

I could not agree more!  I've been struggling with acne for 14 years now (15-29).  That's 14 years of my life literally revolving around my face, of the acne controlling much of my life.  From trying just about every remedy/"cure" out there to hiding myself away from others.  I've also gone through periods in my life when I've felt like killing myself, like that was the only answer.  People who don't have ance or have only gotten mild breakouts cannot possibly understand that most of us would do just about anything (including risking harm to ourselves) to find a way to get rid of it.

 

 

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whta about just taking the mega man vitamins from GNC? they contain vitamin A? is that ok?

Hi agr81,

The Vitamin A+ Skin Solution we are using is a topical. It is highly concentrated and not appropriate for internal use.

However, the makers of the product do suggest including a sufficient amount of Vit A in your diet. A supplement would probably cover that.

Take care,

Synch

Cant anyone tell me of such a product in the UK?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...ssPageName=WDVW

is this right? Thankyou for your help.

Pooratbest - Have you checked the web site [Removed]? Won't they ship to the UK?

Since I'm posting, I'll also give an update: Yeah style_emoticons/ Still no new pimples (can't belive it myself) Still lots of blackheads and clogged pores. I have ordered AloeGuard soap so hopefully that will help (when it gets here). Red marks seem to be slowly fading with the help of Avon Clinical Anew facial peel. Still using BP.

Anyone else with an update? Love to hear how you guys are doing.

Got a note through the door with my vitamin A stuff...so I will collect it tomorow I'll let you know my experiences with it..

I wonder what are the implications if you get any stuff in your eye or lips? I intend to put it on before i go to bed..inevitably it will go on my pillow...just wondered!

Pooratbest- I am in the UK, and they shipped me it. So there shouldn't be any problems there )

Hey, looks like il have to pay them by check so ive gotta wait for my new check book (which so far ive bin waiting like 8 days :S!). KEEP US INFORMED of how its going everyone!

Edit: deepboi am i right in saying postage cost you a whopping $18 odd!?! I might as well get two ordered or something at that price and hopefully save myself a bit i reckon!

pooratbest- Yes, postage was something like that! i just paid by credit card..it took about 4/5 days to get here. I ordered two..seemed better value and should last enough to see results.

Just to let u guys know. Don't leave the bottle in the sun. I had one on the bathroom window sill and I think it got cooked. The maker said Vitamin A self destructs under direct sunlight or too much heat. So tried to put it in the fridge but it freezes solid in there.

Hi All,

Just wanted to give a 2 week update. I have entered into the "breakout" phase, although it isn't that bad (yet). Still oily, but it's only been 2 weeks. BP seems to keep my pretty clear. This is what I'm doing now:

Morning:

Oxy Balance 10% BP face wash

After Work:

Stridex 2.5% BP Power Pad. (I really like this. It's very refreshing and gentle.)

Night:

Cetaphil Normal to Oily

Vit A+ solution

After washing I use a wash cloth for a bit of manual exfoliation. Many plugs just come rght out on their own. I'm not forcing any, so that's good.

I'm keeeping my eyes on scars. Scar improvement is so subjective, but things seem plumper. Might be only cosmetic, but it's a nice effect anyway.

So far I'm happy. General facial redness and red marks are going away. This seems to be good food for the skin!

Best wishes,

Synch

Just wondering how everyone else is doing with the onset of summer. It is 20 degrees warmer than usual here and my face is oiler than it has been recently (although not as bad as it was before). But the good news is I only have one spot on my face right now, which wouldn't be so bad but it tried to squeeze it when it wasn't ready (I know and I don't want to hear it) so it is now worse than if I had just left it alone. Will I ever learn? Any small bumps I get (2 at most) go away overnight. It is nice!!!!

It's very humid here is Detroit. My face is an oil slick! I just can't wait for this stuff to really kick in.

Thanks for the updates Lola n Sync

Day 19 - Nothing new to report on the vitA.  Still oily, but I think that it is starting to lessen.  I can only hope that like Lola my skin is just so oily (and believe me when I tell you it is Disgustingly Oily!) that it takes awhile for the stuff to kick in.  Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll start seeing results.

 

 

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Wll time will tell. The explanation you give though doesnt account for why most (or perhaps all, soon) have noticed a huge decrease in sebum production.

Am J Clin Dermatol. 2005;6(1):29-37.

Medication-induced intracranial hypertension in dermatology.

Friedman DI.

Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. [email protected]

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is a syndrome of intracranial hypertension that is idiopathic or from an identified secondary cause. It is characterized by headaches and visual manifestations. The hallmark of PTC is papilledema and the feared consequence is visual loss that may be severe and permanent. The idiopathic form generally occurs in obese women of childbearing age.Various medications may produce PTC in patients at any age, including children. Several medications used in dermatology, particularly those used in the treatment of acne vulgaris, are associated with PTC. There is a strong association with tetracycline usage. Minocycline and doxycycline have also been linked to PTC, although there are relatively few reported cases. PTC has also been described with retinoids, including vitamin A (retinol) and isotretinoin. Although corticosteroids are often used to lower intracranial pressure acutely, corticosteroid withdrawal after long-term administration may induce increased intracranial pressure. A high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and treatment generally yield a good prognosis.

Skin Pharmacol. 1996;9(5):322-6.

Plasma retinoids after topical use of retinaldehyde on human skin.

Sass JO, Masgrau E, Piletta PA, Nau H, Saurat JH.

Institute for Toxicology and Embryopharmacology, Free University Berlin, Germany.

BACKGROUND: Retinaldehyde (RAL), a natural metabolite of beta-carotene and retinol (ROL), is tolerated by human skin after topical application. PURPOSE: To see if topical application of a large quantity of RAL on human skin is associated with a detectable alteration of constitutive levels of plasma retinoids resulting from metabolism of RAL in the skin. METHODS: Plasma retinoids [ROL, all-trans-retinoic acid (all-trans-RA), RAL, retinyl palmitate/oleate, 13-cis-RA and 4-oxo-13-cis-RA] were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Determinations were done in 10 healthy male volunteers kept on a vitamin-A-poor diet before, during and after daily topical application of 7 mg of RAL to 40% of the body surface for 14 days. RESULTS: The introduction of a restricted vitamin A diet before RAL application resulted in a decrease in the plasma levels of ROL, all-trans-RA and retinyl palmitate/oleate. Topical application of RAL did not induce an alteration of the plasma levels of retinoid metabolites. No RAL was detectable in any of the plasma samples. CONCLUSION: The skin metabolism of topically applied RAL does not result in detectable alterations of constitutive levels of plasma retinoids in humans.

Allright, here's some evidence topical Vitamin A (retinol) does in fact convert to the metabolites in the skin. But note that the concentration of the metabolites achieved in the skin is very small compared to applying them directly. Still, not bad for a non-prescription approach. Which is more than likely why you haven't heard about it, there's no real money in it.

Logan

Exp Dermatol. 1998 Feb;7(1):27-34.

In vitro metabolism by human skin and fibroblasts of retinol, retinal and retinoic acid.

Bailly J, Crettaz M, Schifflers MH, Marty JP.

Zyma S.A. Development Department, Nyon, Switzerland. [email protected]

The metabolism of radio-labelled retinol, retinal and retinoic acid by fresh human skin as well as by human dermal fibroblasts have been investigated in vitro. Surgically removed human skin biopsies were placed at the air liquid interface, and treated topically for 24 h with retinoids. At the end of the treatment period, epidermis and dermis were separated by heat. Epidermis, dermis and medium were subsequently extracted and resulting fractions were analysed by HPLC. Dermal fibroblast cultures were treated and analysed in a comparable manner. Topical application of retinoids resulted in gradient concentrations within the skin. For each fraction, metabolites and unchanged product proportions were determined by HPLC. After treatment with retinol and retinal, low but significant amounts of retinoic acid were detected in the epidermis, as well as in the dermis (30 pmol to 90 pmol). In comparison, treatments with retinoic acid itself, led to higher level of retinoic acid in the epidermis and in the dermis (respectively 2050 and 420 pmol). Cultured human dermal fibroblasts, treated with retinol and retinal, formed retinoic acid as well as several other metabolites (retinol esters, reduction of retinal to retinol...). Taken together, our results are consistent with an action of retinol or retinal on the skin via a retinoic acid formation and a metabolic function of the dermis.

J Invest Dermatol. 1997 Sep;109(3):301-5.

Unoccluded retinol penetrates human skin in vivo more effectively than unoccluded retinyl palmitate or retinoic acid.

Duell EA, Kang S, Voorhees JJ.

Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109-0609, U.S.A.

The formation of all-trans retinoic acid is an oxidative process whereby retinol is converted to retinaldehyde and then to retinoic acid. Because retinol causes qualitative molecular changes similar to those produced by retinoic acid, we compared potency of retinol, retinaldehyde, and retinyl palmitate to retinoic acid and assessed the effects of occlusion. Retinoids were prepared in an experimental vehicle of 95% ethanol:propylene glycol (7:3) with anti-oxidant. Induction of retinoic acid 4-hydroxylase activity was the end point for comparison. Retinoic acid concentrations from 0.001% to 0.05% under occlusion produced a linear dose-response induction of 4-hydroxylase activity. The concentrations of the other retinoids under occlusion required to achieve significant induction of enzyme activity were 0.6% retinyl palmitate, 0.025% retinol, and 0.01% retinaldehyde. The linear dose-response was lost with retinoid concentrations in excess of 0.25% retinol or 0.5% retinaldehyde. Statistical analyses showed no difference in 4-hydroxylase activity between unoccluded and occluded retinol treated sites. By contrast, however, unoccluded sites treated with retinoic acid or retinyl palmitate had less induction of 4-hydroxylase activity than occluded sites. Retinol, retinaldehyde, and retinyl palmitate did not produce erythema but did increase epidermal thickness. Although retinol is a weaker retinoid than retinoic acid, the increased penetration of unoccluded retinol in comparison to unoccluded retinoic acid with this prototypic vehicle confers on retinol a more effective delivery of a retinoidal effect than unoccluded retinoic acid. Retinol at 0.25% may be a useful retinoid for application without occlusion because it does not irritate but does induce cellular and molecular changes similar to those observed with application of 0.025% retinoic acid.